Ash tray



United States Patent C) 3,269,395 Al lhl TRAY Thomas I. Heclrman, 533 lildgewood Road, Ficweriield, Lombard, Ill. Filed Mar. 2%, 1963, Ser. No. 258,916 3 Elaims. (Cl. 13I235) The present invention relates to ash trays and more particularly to ash trays of the type in which cigarettes may be held safely when lighted and in which cigarettes may be snuffed on completion of use.

At present there are many types of ash trays being sold for use in homes, cars and the like. In most of these, the cigarette must be held horizontally during periods between putts and there is a good chance of the smoker burning his fingers on attempting to retrieve a lighted cigarette. This latter condition is especially prevalent in automobiles where cigarettes must be picked up by the driver without taking his eyes from the road for any appreciable length of time. imperative that an ash tray hold a lighted cigarette firmly so that it does not become dislodged during bumpy travel of the car. In addition, if the cigarette is not retrieved by the user, it must burn down in a safe position to be snuffed out by the inherent structure of the ash tray to prevent the starting of fires due to memory lapse. These same factors are also applicable to ash trays as used in home, factory, office or workshop in varying degrees.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved and novel ash tray which holds a tically with the lighted end below the holding surfaces &

allowing retrieval of the cigarette without the possibility of burnt fingers.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ash tray with a cigarette holding device which automatically extinguishes a cigarette placed therein 1 unless the cigarette is removed.

The invention as disclosed herein includes in one embodiment a walled container or receptacle for ashes which has two parallel spaced brushes extending between two confronting walls. Each brush has an axial linear rod which is relatively stiff and a plurality of normally straight resilient bristles extending radially from the rod, the bristles being constructed of non-flammable heat conducting materials. For example, the bristles may be made of steel, brass or aluminum wire. The brushes are spaced apart such that a cigarette inserted generally vertically between the brushes will remain generally upright. To effect this result, the horizontal distance between adjacent brush peripheries should be slightly smaller than the diameter of a cigarette. This distance must be such that the cigarette paper will not be materially damaged by the individual brush bristles. Also the distance must be such that a cigarette is held undamaged but firmly against dislodgement due to anticipated shock or vibration of the ash receptacle.

With the cigarette held by the brushes, the lit end will be disposed below the holding brushes with only the unlit end exposed. Consequently, the smoker may reach for his cigarette without fear of burning his fingers. Any embers or ashes dislodged from the burning cigarette fall harmlessly into the receptacle below the brushes,

In automobiles, it is also ice when the cigarette is held by the brushes so that no harm may ensue.

Further, if a lighted cigarette is inadvertentlyleft in the holder, the cigarette will continue to burn until the burning area of the cigarette encounters the brushes, and the brushes extinguish the cigarette. The cigarette, however, remains in an upright position after the burning has ceased.

In another embodiment, similarly spaced rods carry a plurality of discs journaled thereabout and spaced a short distance from one another. A cigarette placed between the rods will displace adjacent discs so that the discs hold the cigarette. The discs may be metal or other suitable heat resistant, non-flammable thermally conducting material.

In both of the forms of the invention described above, a pair of parallel rods are utilized to provide a holding mechanism for a cigarette. The same parallel rods, or separate parallel rods, may be utilized with a plurality of fiat members which are rigid bodies and which are spaced from each other by a distance substantially less than the diameter of a cigarette to hold a cigarette in a manner similar to that described.

The invention both as to its organization and principle of operation along with other objects, features and advantages of the invention will best be understood by reference to the following specification viewed in connection to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an ash tray and cigarette holding device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the ash tray of FIGURE 1, partially broken away and in section;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of another ash tray constructed according to the present invention which constitutes a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the ash tray of FIGURE 3, partially broken away and in section;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the ash tray of FIG- URES 3 and 4 taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of still another ash tray constructed according to the teachings of the present invention which constitutes a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the ash tray of FIG- URE 6 taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view of an ash tray and cigarette holding device which constitutes a further embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URE 1, there is provided an ash tray or receptacle 10 which is illustrated as rectangular but may assume any aesthetic shape desired, such as circular, oval or the like. The tray may be made of any of the materials currently in use for ash trays such as sheet metal, glass, wood, plastic, ceramic or stone. Tray 1i includes an imperforate floor I2 with four upstanding walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 extending from the edges of floor 12, to comprise an ash retentive, substantially imperforate vessel. A pair of parallel brushes 28 and 30 are permanently affixed at their ends to the opposed sidewalls 16 and 20 of the tray 10 in a manner consistent with the material used in the tray construction. The brushes 28 and 30 have stiff linear rods 24 and 26 on the respective central axes thereof and a plurality of bristles 29 extending radially from each central rod 24 and 26 in all directions to form a cylindrical periphery for each brush. Considering tray 10 with sheet metal walls, rods 24 and 26 extend through the walls and will be allowed to rotate freely. The rods 24 and 26 are individually stiff but may be such that 3 they will bow slightly when pressure is exerted between them by inserting a cigarette between the brushes.

The individual bristles 29 of the brushes should be made of material normally stiff such as brass, steel or aluminum but which are small in cross section and anchored only to the rod to form a compliant brush. Softer non-flammable materials may be used for the brush, but the more inherently stiff materials produce a superior cigarette holding action and are preferable. The bristles must flex when a cigarette is placed between the brushes. Each of the bristles extends radially from the axial rod to combinedly form the cylindrical brush periphery which is generally resilient. The distance between peripheries of the adjacent brushes should be slightly less than the diameter of a cigarette which is normally eight millimeters. The further the brushes 28 and 3t) are spaced from one another, the less is the force applied to a cigarette placed between the brushes. The distance between the confronting cylindrical peripheries of the brushes should be as great as possible while maintaining suflicient force on a cigarette to hold it in position, and is determined by the stiffness of the bristles 2.9, the material of the bristles 29, and whether or not the bristles are straight. In practical construction, the brushes 28 and 30 must be spaced from each other a distance of from 4 to 7 millimeters. Where inherently stilt, straight bristles are used, the contact between a cigarette and the brushes should not occur on the brush peripheries at levels greater than 30 above and below the common plane of rods 24 and 26. In one construction of this embodiment of the invention, brushes 28 and 30 each have a radius of millimeters and are spaced from each other by a distance of 4 millimeters to accommodate a conventional cigarette with an 8 millimeter diameter. The bristles 29 used in a practical embodiment were straight brass of number gage.

With bristles of non-flammable material, the possibility of a fire starting in the tray 10 is reduced and a cigarette tends to burn harmlessly in the generally upright position in which it is placed. If a cigarette is positioned between the brushes 28 and and forgotten, the burning end of the cigarette will continue to burn until the burning portion of the paper comes into contact with the brushes 28 and 30. The brushes 28 and 30 conduct the heat of combustion from the paper and the burning tobacco adjacent to the paper, thus causing the temperature of the burning end of thecigarette to fall below the combustion temperature and the cigarette will become extinguished. The cigarette, however, remains in an upright position between the brushes, since a sufficient portion of the cigarette is unburned to maintain the support.

Further, if it is desired to quickly extinguish a burning cigarette, the cigarette is positioned between the brushes 28 and 30 with the burning end immediately adjacent to the brushes, that is, on the plane of the axes of the rods 24 and 26. The cigarette is then twisted and the bristles 29 of the brushes 28 and 30 scrape the burning portions of the paper wrapper of the cigarette and the adjacent burning tobacco from the body of the cigarette itself, these burning ashes and embers falling into the tray 10. Removal of the peripheral portions of the burning tobacco at the lighted end of the cigarette generally is effective to loosen also the burning portions of the center of the lighted end of the cigarette and cause them also to fall into the tray 10, even though the brushes do not make direct contact therewith. In the event the cigarette is not completely extinguished, it may of course be scrubbed against the bristles 29 of a brush 28 or 30.

If the ash tray is to be used in an automobile, it may be secured in an aperture located in the dashboard of a vehicle, as is conventional, or it may be otherwise mounted on the motor vehicle. Also, the base of the tray 10 may be weighted and the tray simply placed on a horizontal surface.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 3 through 5, an imperforate ash tray 38 includes a hexagonal base 40 and six joined outer walls 41-46 sealed to the six respective edges of the base 40 and extending upwardly therefrom. Tray 33 may be made of any of the materials listed for the earlier embodiment such as metal, ceramic or the like. In the center of the hexagon is a raised triangle 48 with sidewalls 51, 52 and 53, all connected to the tray base 40. The triangle is disposed parallel to the base 40 and is spaced therefrom by the height of the sidewalls 51, 52 and 53 which are preferably greater in height than the height of outer walls 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46. Triangle 48 may be used for such purposes as resting a pipe thereon when the pipe is not in use.

In this embodiment, there are utilized three different devices or means for holding one or more cigarettes. In the first form of holder shown, parallel rods 54 and 56 span the gap between outer wall 41 and triangle wall 51, with each of these rods bearing a brush member 58 and 60 respectively. These brush members and rods may be similar in shape and construction to the members and rods described for the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Between outer wall 43 and triangle wall 52, there are suspended in a suitable manner, a pair of parallel rods 64 and 66, the rods being in a plane at a slight angle to the base 40, and normal to the wall 43 in a plane normal to said plane. A plurality of beads are disposed in abutting adjacent relation on each of these rods 64 and 66. These beads 63 are spherical and all have the same diameter. These beads are freely rotatable on the rods 64 and 66 and are of non-flammable, heat conducting material.

Beads 68 are approximately of a diameter which is a fraction equal to 1/ n of the distance between the walls 43 and 52, where n is the number of beads, so that the beads are disposed with centers on planes parallel to the wall 52 and separated by equal increments, one head of each rod 64 and 66 being disposed in each plane. The rods 64 and 66 are spaced from each other by a distance greater than the diameter of the beads, but the nearest point on the surface of each head is spaced from the nearest point on the surface of the other head in the same plane parallel to the wall 43 by a distance less than the diameter of a cigarette so that a cigarette may be positioned between four beads disposed in twos on opposite sides thereof. However, the distance between each bead and the two beads disposed on the other rod and located on opposite sides of the head on said other rod disposed in the same plane as the first mentioned head is slightly less than the diameter of a cigarette, so that a cigarette positioned between the tour beads located on two adjacent planes will be held firmly in position. Thus, when a cigarette is placed between the rods, the beads will roll to allow the cigarette to penetrate the area between bead rows as long as pressure is applied to the cigarette upper end. The heads will hold a cigarette firmly in an upright position until the cigarette is retrieved.

Beads '68 are constructed of thermally conducting material, such as metal, so that the heat of combustion of the lighted end of .a cigarette will be conducted away from the cigarette when the lighted end is disposed adjacent to the beads 68. For this reason, a cigarette placed between confronting pairs of heads will burn until the lighted end comes in contact with the beads, and will thereafter become extinguished, in a manner similar to that described above for the brushes 28 and 30 of FIG- URES 1 and '2. The beads thus torm a holder for a cigarette and a device for extinguishing the cigarette in much the same manner as described above. Also, the beads have been described as spherical, although it is to be understood that the beads may be other symmetrical the same manner as previously described :for the brushes.

Between the third triangle wall 53 and the opposed outer wall 45 there is positioned a pair of spaced rods 74 and 76. These rods 74 and 76 are also disposed in a plane at a slight angle to the base 40 similar to those previously described. .Rods 74 and 76 each bear a series of flat circular discs 78 and '80. The discs 78 are provided with concentric axial channels 79 therethrough which are journaled about the rods 74 and 76, and the discs 80 have channels 79A extending therethrough which are disposed ofi of the aids of the discs and journaled about the -rods 74 and 76. The discs 78 and 80 are all of the same diameter, so that in plan view, as shown in FIGURE 3, the discs 78 and 80 appear as two rows of parallel discs mounted on a central axis. However, as shown in FIGURE 5, the discs 80 extend below the discs 78. Further, the discs 80 are arranged in groups, designated MA at one end of each rod 74 and 76, each group comprising a plurality of discs 80, and a group 81A of discs 80 mounted on rod 76 confronts a second group 81A of discs 80 mounted on rod 78. In like manner, the discs 78 form groups 81B on both rods 74 and 76 and the peripheries of the discs 78 on the two rods are spaced from each other by a distance less than the diameter of a cigarette. Also, the channels 79 in the discs 78 are substantially larger than the rods 74 and 76, and the spacing of the peripheries of the discs on one rod from the discs on the other plus the difference in the diameters of the channels 79 and the rods 74 or 76 must exceed the diameter of a cigarette. Because of the enlarged journal hole 79 in discs 78 the discs can separate to admit a cigarette, but because the weight of the discs 78 is then off center, gravitational forces on the discs 78 hold the cigarette secure. The eccentric discs '80 rotate to allow a cigarette to be inserted easily, but upon the attempt to (withdraw the cigarette the eccentric arrangement of discs 80 cause a clamping action upon the cigarette thereby pinching the burning tip from the body of the cigarette, thus extinguishing the cigarette.

The rods 74 and 76 are parallel to each other and spaced by a distance which is less than twice the radius of the discs 78 or 8 plus the diameter of a cigarette, but more than twice the shortest distance between the channel of the discs 80 and the perimeter of the discs 80 plus the diameter of a cigarette. As a result, a cigarette may be placed between two confronting groups 81A of discs 80 by pivoting the discs 80 away from each other on the rods 74 and 7.6, as shown in FIGURE 5, and the displaced weight of the discs 80 firmly holds the cigarette in position. It is to be noted that the discs 80 also conduct heat from the cigarette and therefore act as a snuffer in the manner described for the brushes 28 and and spheres 68 referred to above.

Now turning to the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 there is shown a circular ash tray 88 with a circular base 90 and a surrounding generally cylindrical sidewall 92. As explained previously, any conventional material used in ash trays construction may be used herein. Extending between opposed sections of sidewall 92 are two parallel rods 94 and 96 on which are mounted the combined cigarette holder and snutfer of this embodiment. An assembly of discs 78 and 80 are journaled adjacent to both outer ends of the rods 94 and 96, the discs 80 being disposed in groups 81A as described above.

Inwardly of the discs 78 and. 80 on each rod 94 and 96 is mounted an elongated member 104 with an exterior surface symmetrical about the rod mounting. Each member 104 has an axial channel journaled about one of the rods. These members 104 each have spaced apart peripheral circular grooves 106 spaced along the outer surface thereof. These members 104 are free to rotate on their respective rods and are spaced from the adjacent rod a distance slightly less than a cigarette diameter. The grooves of the members 164 on rod 94 confront the grooves on the members 104 on rod 96 and the maximum distance between the surfaces of the grooves of confronting members is slightly less than the diameter of a cigarette to thereby compress a cigarette placed therebetween. These members 104 preferably may be constructed of glass or ceramic for holding and extinguishing cigarettes without the hazard of fire.

At the center of ash tray 88 is a cylinder or block 110 mounted on the rods with the axis of the cylinder normal to the rods. The end 111 of the cylinder is hemispheric. Such a block 110 is useful for pipe smokers who strike their pipes on the block to empty burnt caked matter from the bottom of the pipe bowl. With block 110 made of a compliant material such as cork, the pipe will not be damaged by the striking action. The shape of spherical end 111 allows caked tobacco to roll off the end and fall harmlessly into the tray base.

FIGURE 8 shows a construction which utilizes a pair of parallel spaced rods 114 and 116 in a rectangular tray 115 similar in general construction to the invention embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. On the rods 114 and 116 are mounted parallelogram plates 120 which have channels 121 extending therethrough displaced from the center of the plates 120. The rods 114 and 116 are journaled within the channels 121 of the plates 120, and the plates 120 are free to pivot on their respective rods. The distance between plates on opposite rods maybe considerably less than the diameter of a cigarette as in the embodiment of eccentrically mounted discs in FIGURES 3 through 5. When a cigarette is inserted between the rods, the plates pivot outwardly from the cigarette about their respective rods and hold the cigarette by gravitational force. An attempt to withdraw the cigarette causes the plates 128 to tighten on the cigarette to sever the burning end of the cigarette from the body of the cigarette and extinguish the cigarette. The same materials described for the other constructions may also be used for the plates.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention describe what are presently thought to be the preferred construction embodying the present invention. It is, however, contemplated that those skilled in the art will devise many modifications and uses within the intended scope of the present invention. For example, except for dimensions, the foregoing embodiments of the invention are equally applicable to cigars as to cigarettes. Further, it is contemplated that the present invention will be utilized with materials not set forth in the foregoing disclosure. Hence, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be not limited by the foregoing disclosure, but rather only by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination holder for elongated tobacco smoking articles and ash tray for refuse therefrom, comprising a container having an opening therein, and a holder mounted on the container having two brushes confronting the opening therein, said brushes having a pair of spaced parallel rods mounted at opposite ends of the container, said rods being mounted for independent rotation, each of said brushes having a plurality of heat conducting, non-flammable bristles mounted at one end thereof on the rod and extending outwardly therefrom, the outward ends of the bristles defining a cylinder, the cylinder defined by the ends of the bristles of the two brushes being spaced from each other by a distance less than the smalles t cross sectional dimension of a smoking article and sufficiently close to said smallest cross sectional dimension of the smoking article to permit a smoking article to be disposed between the pair of brushes without substantial damage to the article, whereby a smoking article may :have its lighted end inserted between the brushes to confront the container and be held in position by the brushes.

7 8 2. A combination holder for approximately cylindri- References Cited by the Examiner cal cigarettes having a diameter of approximately eight UNITED STATES PATENTS milhmeters and ash tray comprising the combination of claim 1 wherein the distance between the cylinders defined 1,753,210 4/1930 Melvlne 131 237 by the ends of the bristles of each brush are spaced from 5 2111084 3/1938 Anderson }31 237 each other by a distance between four millimeters and 2,270,370 1/1942 Dalrymple et seven millimeters. FOREIGN PATENTS 3. A combination holder for elongated tobacco smoking articles and ash tray for refuse therefrom, comprising 320118 10/1929 Great Bmam' the combination of claim 1, wherein the 'bristles of each 10 SAMUEL KOREN, primary Examinen of the brushes extend from the rod of said brush a distance greater than the spacing between the brushes. JOSEPH REICH Examine," 

1. A COMBINATION HOLDER FOR ELONGATED TOBACCO SMOKING ARTICLES AND ASH TRAY FOR REFUSE THEREFROM, COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, AND A HOLDER MOUNTED ON THE CONTAINER HAVING TWO BRUSHES CONFRONTING THE OPENING THEREIN, SAID BRUSHES HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL RODS MOUNTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CONTAINER, SAID RODS BEING MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATION, EACH OF SAID BRUSHES HAVING A PLURALITY OF HEAT CONDUCTING, NON-FLAMMABLE BRISTLES MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOF ON THE ROD AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, THE OUTWARD ENDS OF THE BRISTLES DEFINING A CYLINDER, THE CYLINDER DEFINED BY THE ENDS OF THE BRISTLES OF THE TWO BRUSHES BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER BY A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE SMALLEST CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF A SMOKING ARTICLE AND SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE TO SAID SMALLEST CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF THE SMOKING ARTICLE TO PERMIT A SMOKING ARTICLE TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE PAIR OF BRUSHES WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ARTICLE, WHEREBY A SMOKING ARTICLE MAY HAVE ITS LIGHTED END INSERTED BETWEEN THE BRUSHES TO CONFRONT THE CONTAINER AND BE HELD IN POSITION BY THE BRUSHES. 